Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has downplayed the perceived rivalry between President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing the two as longtime friends merely engaged in political theatrics.
Kalu, who represents Abia North, suggested that while the two may appear to clash publicly, they could very well be meeting privately and maintaining cordial relations away from the spotlight.
The former Abia State governor made the remarks while responding to criticism over his recent visit to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, urging Nigerians not to take political differences at face value.
In an interview with Channels Television, Kalu said: “If anybody is thinking that I’m going to stop going to the governor because I’m a senator in APC and he’s a governor in Labour Party, they are just wasting their time.
“What if I go out of politics tomorrow, will I start going to amend friendship because I abandoned it because of party? No.
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“Remember during Obasanjo, I was the only governor—and Boni Haruna—going to Atiku’s house. Obasanjo drove away all the governors. I have an open relationship with Atiku.
“Atiku is Tinubu’s good friend, but they are playing politics. I am sure they might even be exchanging visits in the night. Nobody knows.
“It is healthy for constitutional democracy. For people hiding, it’s not good. There are a lot of people who will deceive Tinubu and say, ‘I don’t want to talk to this man,’ but they hide to talk to them. But I don’t.
“All the major players in PDP are my friends, and I can’t do away with them because they are in another party.”
